Glass tempering apparatus



April 3,` 194'5. ,1. K. JACKSON 2,372,898 i GLASS TEMPERING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1940 a sneetsheeri y v y BYM April 3, 1945. J. K. JACKSON A 2,372,898

GLASS TEMPERING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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i' I Y INVENroR. N 7000' fl. Jac/rso/v April 3, l945 K. JACKSON 2,372-,8'98

GLASS TEMPERING APPARATUS J. K. rJACKSON GLASS TEMPERING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 mVENToR. l 'JH/v /Jc/rso/Y BY #ww 'l AT oRNEY April 3, 1945.

. J. K. JACKSON GLASS EMPERING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1l, 1940 A8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. J'oH/v K. JecKsofv April 3, 1945. J. K. JACKSON GLASS TEMI-BRING APARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1940 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 ITU.

INVENTOR. JJH/v Jclfs olv AT RNEK April 3, 1945- J. K. .JACKSON 2,372,898

A A GLASS TEMPERING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11, 1940 s sheets-sheet 7 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Aprxl 3, 1945. J. K. JACKSON GLASS TEMERING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 11. 1940 IIII "o IWJI IIIIIII I...

dwg l Patented pr; 3, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT ortica GLAss TEMrnmNG APPARATUS John K. Jackson, Corning, N. Y., assigner to Corning Glass Works, Corning, N. Y., a corpo-l ration of New York Application January 11, 1940,' Serial No. 313,457

' (c1. 4er-4s 2 Claims. ihe present invention relates to the art`of tempering and particularly toimprovements in the use of baths at lower temperatures for chilling or tempering ware, which has -previously been heated to a given temperature, to produce a desired degree of temper in the ware,

An object of the present invention is an improved tempering method.

Another object is an improved form of apparatus for carrying out applicants improved tempering method.

A further object is an apparatus caA ble of the receipt,v further heating and processing or tempering of articles of Ware directly from a line of production and also capable of processing. or temperlng articles of ware delivered to it at room temperature. l l A still further object of the invention. is the maintenance of` the temperature of the chilling and temperature reducing fluids or baths at a predetermined constant value in spite of the fact that such iiuids constantly absorb heat from ware passed through them.

The invention embodies a structure having ware heating-chilling, temperature reducing, and shock and wash tanks of duid baths arranged end to end in the order named, 'a kiln arranged over the series of tanks for heating ware taken from stock, finger equipped chains for the receipt and delivery of ware to the heating kiln, inger equipped chains for conveying ware through the 'kiln, finger equipped chains for 'thereceipt of ware directly from a line of production or alternatively for ware as it leaves the kiln for delivery to iinger equipped chains for conveying the ware will-become evident from a further perusal of the specication 4taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:-

Figs. l and 2 together constitute a plan view" of an apparatus embodying the invention;

Figs. 3 and 4 comprise a side elevation o f the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the' apparatus;

Fig. 5a is an enlarged perspective view of a form of warerack shown in use with the apparatus in Figs. 5, 6, 'l and 9;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional elevation of a portion of theapparatus illustrated in Fig. 1, and

in addition illustrates racks conveying ware in the course of its processing or tempering treatment;

Fig. 6a-is an enlarged view taken on line Sri-Sa of Fig. 6, showing the arrangement of an article rack supporting'rod with respect to the assotion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a fragment of the apparatus containing one of the devices for transcomprises a perforated tube immersed in such fluid and supplied with cooling air.

Other objects and features of the invention' ferringware from one tank to another;

Fig. 8a is a view taken on line a-aof'Fig. 8;

Fig. 8b is a View taken on line Bb-Sb of Fig. 8;

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of an article rack carrying rod showing the rack properly broken away; v

Fig. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view oi' the apparatus of Figs. 8 and 9 which for a time prevents swinging of ware to an alternative position under the iniiuence of gravity;

Fig. 12 is a perspective view illustrating the chain drive arrangement at the end of the apparatus at which power is supplied;

Fig. 13 is a, side elevational view illustrating the linkage between' chains at the end of the apparatus opposite which power is'supplled;

Fig. 14 is a side elevation'of a fragment of the apparatus of Fig. 12 where transfer of ware from one set of chains to another occurs;

to `handle differently shaped ware; and

Fig. 15a is an enlarged perspective view of the form of ware rack illustrated as in use in Fig.' 15.

In brief, the arrangement of the apparatus is such that ware from stock is placed in a suitable l rack suspended from aware supporting rod which of a por- Fig. 15 is a view similar to Fig. s,- but modified each piece of ware kiln. At the exit endof the kiln, ngers of a third set of chains lower the ware into the heating bath. Other chains then pass` the ware through this bath and successively through the chilling, temperature reducing, and shock `and 6 wash baths, after which the ware is picked up by` the chains which conveyed it to the heating kiln and which no w raise the ware from the latter bath.' An attendant at this location removes the` treated ware from; the ware rack 'and lreplaces it l0 with a fresh piece.

When treated directly from a press, it is unnecessary to pass ware through the kiln. Accordingly, in such case the ware is placed in a ware asvasos the ware to the nuids of the respective baths and accordingly the racks, such as Il (Fig. 17) designed for support of a sauce pan DI and similar ware of varying sizes. have inclined perforated sheet metal supports I3 having nichrome wire coiled through the perforations therethrough and only the upper portions of each coil turn engaged by the side-wall of a sauce pan while only its open edges engage upright rod members 65 of the frame. With this form of support the weight of the ware is so distributed th'at objectional marking of the ware where'it contacts the supporting wires is avoided. This supporting engagement also has negligible heat capacity and therefore rack having its supporting rod on lingers of those i6 chains being carried from the exit end of the kiln toward the heating bath rather than in a rack about to enterthe kiln. `Other steps in the treatment of the ware are the same as for waretaken from stock. f

'I'he entire apparatus is supported by a suitable frame generally designated I| and within the upper portion of which, as best illustrated in Figs.

0, 6 and 7, is a tunnel kiln, generally designated I2, heated by a series of gas burners I3 arranged 25 on either side thereof. A slot I4 (Figs. 1, 2 and 5) through the kiln roof extends the full length thereof and enables ware suspended from above the kiln to be passed therethrough. Arranged does not materiallyinterfere with the cooling of the ware by the uid at the supporting points.

Racks generally designated 6| designed for deep and relatively straight walled ware, such as shown in Figs. 5, 5a, 6 and 7, have four sheet metal supports 66 perforated along their upper edges and wire 1 wound thereover and through such perforations. 'Ihe ware rests on the respective turns of wire and may or may not lightly contact the front and back rods 62 of the rack during treatment. An inverted U-shaped rod 1I is pivoted through a crossmember of rack Il and lightly below the kiln. in end to end relation are tanks-30 I1, Il, I9 and 2|I for ware heating. primary chilling, ware temperature reducing and shock and wash bath fluids, respectively.

Heating elements 22 (Fig. 1) are supplied with engages opposite sides of the ware to assist in holding it in the rack.

Conveyors As is evident from an inspection of Figs. 5. 6, 7,

and 12-14, the various conveyor chains are dielectric current in known manner to heat the 35 material forming the nuid bath in tank I1 to a temperature determined by the softening temperature of the ware.

I'he materials forming the fluids contained in tanks la and ls are heated by ges burners-:s 0

which direct their heating flames into suitable burner ports in housings surrounding these tanks. During operation, heat imparted to the fluid in tanks Il and I9 by the ware alone tends to maintain these fluids heated to above their desired "5 operating temperatures. However, uid cooling equipment functions with sumcient effectiveness to cool these fluids to slightly below their desired predeterminedy temperatures, thereby enablingthe desired temperatures to be maintained by. placing burners 25 under control of suitable temperature control apparatus, not shown, also having control over the burners I3 and the heating elements 22.

The fluid cooling equipment associated with 6 tank I9 (Fig. 2) comprises a preformed -pipe 26 arranged within the tank and connected with an external line 21 through which the proper amount of cooling air is supplied to make a limited use of the associated burners tain the temperature desired.

Ware supports 25 necessary to mainso through the kiln and the re- 65 rook, of a eonnguretion depending on-the enar- 7 acter of. ware to be tempered, is tightly clamped to the rod il midway between its rollers 56. Each rack is provided at the top with a block l2 perforated to receive a ware support rod i5. It is desirable to expose the maximum powble surface of 7 rectly or indirectly driven by a cross shaft 1i carrying a sprocket wheel`1l driven by a chain 11 extending from a suitable gear reduction unit 1l driven by an associated motor 19 (Figs. 1 and 3). The shaft 15 at locations .lust within its bearing supports is provided with sprocket wheels l opposite end of the structure where they pass around sprocket wheels I2 carried by stub shafts 84; Near the right handvend of the structure (Fig. 7) the lower run of chain I2 passes over idler sprocket wheels l5 and under an intermediate slack take-up sprocket wheel I6 can'ied by a weighted arm 81 which holds the' chain taut.

On opposite sides of the machine stub shafts 9| (Figs. 6 and 12) are rotated by sprocket wheels s2 driven by chains 92 surrounding sprocket wheels 94 carried by the cross shaft 15 andthrough the medium of associated gears si and pinions 96 drive stub shafts I1 carrying sprocket wheels 98 for driving vertically disposed conveyor chains al which', near the top of the machine, pass around idler sprocket wheels III carried by stub shafts III. 'I'hese shafts are rotated by sprocket wheels Ill driven by chains |06 passingaround sprocket wheels Il1 carried by countershafts l". These countershafts carry gears IIC driven by pinions III' which are ln mesh with the rotating pinions I6 carried by stub shafts l1.

Shafts IIIl adjacent their idler'sptocket wheels In have keyed thereto sprocket wheels ||2 for driving conveyor chains IIS which. in -a similar fashion to chains I2, extend to the other end of the machine where they surroimd idler sprocket wheels III (Pig. 7) carried byy stub shafts IIS, and are also provided with slack take-up devices such as'already described. Other sprocket wheels III (Flg.13) carried by shafts 5 carry conveyor chains I2l which are driven by sprocket wheels can'ied by stub shafts |22. As best shown in Fig. 13, each of these shafts carries a pinion |22 in mesh with a gear |24 about which pass chains l2 extending to the carried by a stub shaft 125 provided with a |3| (Figs. 5, 6, 6a and '1) on which the rollers 56 of such rods rest and for this purpose are provided with suitably spaced fingers |32' and Chains |20 are provided with lingers |35 by means of which they can convey and transfer rods 55 to tracks |3| and can also lift rods Vfrom tracks |36 (Fig. '1) and bring them into position for removal by an attendant. During transfer of a rod to tracks |3l, intermediate tracks |35 cooperate with'the rod rollers 56 to maintain the rods on the ngers. Owing to the space occupied by ware suspended when moving vertically, it is impossible to space lingers |35 in accordance with the spacing of those on chains 82 and H3. This is compensated for, however, by driving the chains |20 at such a speed with respect tothe speed of chains B2 that all rods carried by chains 82 are picked up as they are advanced into the path of movement of fingers |35. The rate of movement of chains H3 with respect to`that of chains |25 and the distribution of the fingers on the two sets of chains are such that fingers of chains |25 always deposit the rods on tracks |3| slightly in advance of approaching fingers |32 of chains H3. The latter fingers then function to advance the rods to convey the ware through the kiln.

AThe spaces between the lingers |52 of chain-S |513 are shown to be the same as the spacing between the lingers of chains 82, and accordingly the speed of movement of the ware through .the kiln is the same as that of its return movethereof.

. At the exit end of the kiln chains 99 are (see' Figs. l2 and 14) providedwith fingers |50 corresponding to those with which chains 62 and I3 are provided as well as with fingers mi similar to those of chains |25.

Each pair of fingers |50-45| `are spaced to accommodate a rod 55 between them (Fig. 14). The chains 99, which travel at the same rate of speed as chains |25, are so arranged with respect to the fingers |32 of chains H3 that lingers of the latter chains bring a rod into the path of movement of the long fingers H which advance the rod forward and downward, the rod being prevented from rolling off the short lingers Idil by engagement of their rollers 56 with associated tracks |52. In order to make it unnecessary for the fingers |32 of chains H3 to be in an exact position with respect to ngers Idil- IM at the point of transfer, cams |55 have been provided which enable lingers |32 to elevate the rods and give clearance for movement of fingers |52 and M0 under them.

As a rod is lowered the ware carried by it is lowered into the heating uid in tank |1 (Fig. 6). Finally, when a rod is lowered below the end of tracks |42, its rollers B come to rest on tracks |36 and the ware is then advanced toward the right by fingers |32' of chains 82. As already mentioned and as will be fully described hereinafter, the ware is transferred from one fluid tank to 'another during its progress to the right. As a rod enters the path of movement of fingers |35 of chains |20 (Fig. 7) it is againcarried upward toward the' kiln. As the ware emerges froml the bath, an attendant removes the ware and replaces it with a fresh piece to be tempered.

Transfer of 'ware from one tank to another The transfer mechanisms at the junctions of the respective tank ends are mounted on stub I shafts |56 (Figs. 8 and 9) and include transfer arm sprocket Wheels |5| about which the chains 8.2 are held in driving relation by associated idler sprocket wheels |52.' Gears |55 carried bystub shafts at each of the'transfer positions, except for the one intermediate the ends of tanks Hand i8 (Figs. 8 and 9). are permanently held against rotation in any desired manner. The gears at this particular position are arranged in xed relation with a gear Y|56 which gear is in mesh with a sector gear |51 under the influence of an arm |58 lhaving a roller cooperative with a 4 positions.

Ware transfer arms |55 are carried by the shafts |50 and are in fixed relation to the driven sprocket wheels 5| so that such arms are rotated as the chains 82 advance the ware. The ends. of arms each have a stub shaft |56 which at one end carries a gear |61 and at the other end carries a hub |68 with a keyway |69 to accommodate the key 51 of a ware supporting rodk 55 or, alternatively, the end of a rod on which no key is provided. Gears |10 carried by arms |65 are arranged intermediate gears |61 and |55 and in mesh therewith, with the net result that as arm |65 rotates, the gears llll rotate about the gears |55 and in turn rotate gears |61 the proper amount to maintain hubs |68 ina positionto receive and hold a key |51 in a vertical position, as illustrated in Figs. 8b and 17, while transferring ware from one bath to another. A rod 55 being advanced toward the end of a tank, tank l1 for example, is brought to a stop in the path of movement of hubs |68 by stop blocks |1| arranged in the path of movement of the rods. These blocks have a cam surface |12 and raise the rods sufficiently to allow fingers of chain 82 to start passing thereunder before lifting of the rod from the chain is fully effected. As illustrated in Fig. 15. as the transfer arms rotate they lift a piece of ware from the iiuid in tank |1 while lowering a piece of ware into the uid in tank i8, the

covered when simply lowered linto a. chilling iluid.

When ware to be treated has a recessed sidev wall, the apparatus must be slightly modiiied to tilt the .ware to fully empty it as it leaves the heating fluid, as the retention of such rluid in the ware will interfere with the proper chilling treatment and will also carry an excessive amount of the heating fluid over into the chilling bath. Also, it is essential' to impart a special swinging movement to the ware as it is being immersed to avoid trapping air in the recessed portion of the ware which would prevent proper chillingV of such portion.

To modify the apparatus to render it suitable for treatment of the latter defined form of ware. the disc |60 (Fig. 15) is removed from shaft-|50 and cam |59 (Figs. 8, 8a and 9) substituted therefor. Also, a fixed cam |15 and an associated rod hold-down device |16 are provided at this transfer location.

The contour and setting of cam |59 is such that it becomes effective to rotate gears |55, and |61 in a direction to effect rotation 'of hubs |68 a slight distance ln'a counterclock-wise direction as the ware is being lifted from the heating uid and to 'rotate such gears in the reverse direction as the same end of the arm lowers the ware into the adjacent tank of chilling iuid'to a. position approximately that indicated in Fig.

11 as it deposits the ware carrying rod on tracks |30 immediately in front of a pair of the lingers |32', thereby replacing ally air Within the ware with chilling uid.i To hold the ware tilted long enough to assure iilling it with fluid, the short length of cam track |15 is provided. This track is engaged by the key 51 ofa rod beforel the ware has had time to swing back to the vertical position following its release 'imm a hub |60 and prevents its return to its naturally suspended position during a short distance of travel through the chilling fluid. The hold-down track |16 cooperates with a rod roller 56 to prevent the rod lfrom raising off .the track while held in the rotated position' by caml track |15. Obvimaracas ously. only one end of the ware transfer arm can be properly controlled by cam |50 and accordingly when such cam is used only the alternate positions of the conveyor chains from which the properly controlled arm picks up rods are fed ware to be 'processed in thisiashion. Subsequent steps of the treatment are identical to those already described.

Itis believed clear from the foregoing that ware from stock, being at room temperature, is deposited in racks suspended from rods at the time on up-moving fingers |35 of chains |20 (Fis. 7) at the right hand end of the machine and accordingly passes through the kiln before passing through the respective uid baths, whereas ware taken from a line of production may be deposited in racks suspended from rods at the time on downwardly moving fingers |40 (Fig. 6)

` of chains 99, thereby omitting the reheating step performed by the kiln. As will be evident, treated ware` is in all instances removed from the racks at substantially the point at which Ware from stock is loaded into the racks.

I claim:

l. A glassware tempering apparatus which includes means for suspending a piece of previously heated ware, means for lowering the suspending means into a tempering bath, means for tilting the suspending means as it is being lowered into the bath, means for moving the suspending means horizontally through the bath, and means for maintaining the suspending means in such tilting position during a predetermined portion of such movement. l

2. In a glassware tempering apparatus,- two tanks of fluid, a ware support, means for transferring said support from one tank to another, means for imparting a tilting movement to said support during its transfer, means for then moving said support horizontally through the tluid to-whlch ithas been transferred, and means4 for holding the support in the tilted position to which it has been moved l-by said second means during a portion of said horizontal movement.

' JQHN K. JACKSON. 

